HB 1605 — Requiring traumatic brain injury screenings for children entering the foster care system.

H-1777.1SUBSTITUTEH-0771.1HOUSE HOUSE BILL 1605State of Washington66th Legislature2019 Regular SessionByHouseSessionByRepresentatives Human Services & Early Learning (originally sponsored by Representatives Dent, Peterson, Griffey, Caldier, Goodman, Volz, Stanford, Lovick, Reeves, Klippert, Frame, Schmick, Harris, Appleton, Kretz, DeBolt, Cody, Macri, Orwall, Shea, Blake, Kloba, Doglio, Ortiz-Self, Eslick, Jinkins, Van Werven, Fey, Ormsby, Callan, Bergquist, Tarleton, and Leavitt)READLeavittRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/19/19.AN01/25/19.Referred to Committee on Human Services & Early Learning.AN ACT Relating to requiring traumatic brain injury screenings for children entering the foster care system;

addingand aamending newRCW section74.14A.050.BE toIT chapterENACTED 74.13BY RCW;THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:Sec.

and providing an expiration date.BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:NEW SECTION.  Sec.

ARCW new74.14A.050 sectionand is2003 addedc to207 chapters 74.139 RCWare each amended to read as follows:(1) The department,secretary inshall:(((1)))(a) consultationConsult with therelevant healthqualified planprofessionals contracted to providedevelop healtha careset coverageof tominimum fosterguidelines youth,to shall evaluate:(a) Traumatic brain injury screening tools that could be used withfor childrenidentifying enteringall out-of-homechildren carewho asare definedin undera RCWstate-assisted 13.34.030support andsystem, thewhether evidenceat-home baseor forout-of-home, suchwho tools;(b)are Optionslikely to includeneed traumaticlong-term braincare injury screening tools in existing screens or regularassistance, healthbecause carethey appointmentsface forphysical, childrenemotional, inmedical, out-of-homemental, careor asother definedlong-term underchallenges((; RCW 13.34.030;

and(c)(b))). The recommended treatment actions based on health care, behavioral health care, and trauma-related best practices for youth for whom a potential traumatic brain injury is identified using a screening tool.(2) By December 1, 2019, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the department shall provide a report based on the requirements in this section to the appropriate committees of the legislature.(3) This section expires July 1, 2020.--- END ---

The guidelines must, at a minimum, consider the following criteria for identifying children in need of long-term care or assistance:(i) Placement within the foster care system for two years or more;(ii) Multiple foster care placements;(iii) Repeated unsuccessful efforts to be placed with a permanent adoptive family;(iv) Chronic behavioral or educational problems;(v) Repetitive criminal acts or offenses;(vi) Failure to comply with court-ordered disciplinary actions and other imposed guidelines of behavior, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation;

and(vii) Chronic physical, emotional, medical, mental, or other similar conditions necessitating long-term care or assistance;(((2)))(b) Develop programs that are necessary for the long-term care of children and youth that are identified for the purposes of this section.

Programs must:

(((a)))(i) Effectively address the educational, physical, emotional, mental, and medical needs of children and youth;

and (((b)))(ii) incorporate an array of family support options, to individual needs and choices of the child and family.

The programs must be ready for implementation by January 1, 1995;(((3)))(c) Conduct an evaluation of all children currently within the foster care agency caseload to identify those children who meet the criteria set forth in this section.

All children entering the foster care system must be evaluated for identification of long-term needs, including a screening for traumatic brain injury, within thirty days of placement((;)).(((4)))(2)(a) As a result of the passage of chapter 232, Laws of 2000, the department is conducting a pilot project to do a comparative analysis of a variety of assessment instruments to determine the most effective tools and methods for evaluation of children.

The pilot project may extend through August 31, 2001.

The department shall report to the appropriate committees in the senate and house of representatives by September 30, 2001, on the results of the pilot project.

The department shall select an assessment instrument that can be implemented within available resources.

The department shall complete statewide implementation by December 31, 2001.

The department shall report to the appropriate committees in the senate and house of representatives on how the use of the selected assessment instrument has affected department policies, by no later than December 31, 2002, December 31, 2004, and December 31, 2006((;

(5))).

The secretary shall use the assessment tool developed pursuant to this subsection (((4) of this section)) in making out-of-home placement decisions for children;(((6)))(b) Each region of the department shall make the appropriate number of referrals to the foster care assessment program to ensure that the services offered by the program are used to the extent funded pursuant to the department's contract with the program.

The department shall report to the legislature by November 30, 2000, on the number of referrals, by region, to the foster care assessment program.

If the regions are not referring an adequate number of cases to the program, the department shall include in its report an explanation of what action it is or has taken to ensure that the referrals are adequate;(((7)))(c) The department shall report to the legislature by December 15, 2000, on how it will use the foster care assessment program model to assess children as they enter out-of-home care;(((8)))(d) The department is to accomplish the tasks listed in ((subsections (4)))(a) through (((7)))(c) of this ((section))subsection within existing resources((;)).(((9)))(3) The secretary shall also study and develop:(a) A comprehensive plan for the evaluation and identification of all children and youth in need of long-term care or assistance, including, but not limited to, ((the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, medically fragile, seriously emotionally or behaviorally disabled, and physically impaired;

(10) Study and develop))individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, medical fragility, serious emotional or behavioral disabilities, and physical impairments;(b) A plan for ((the)) children and youth in need of long-term care or assistance to ensure the coordination of services between the department's divisions and between other state agencies who are involved with the child or youth;(((11) Study and develop))(c) Guidelines for transitional services, between long-term care programs, based on the person's age or mental, physical, emotional, or medical condition;

and(((12) Study and develop))(d) A statutory proposal for the emancipation of minors.--- END ---